Gate-latch.



No. 890,660. I PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908.

V A. S. KENT.

GATE LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUN]? 24, 1907. RENEWED APR. 3, 190B.

WITNESSES: 4 y Y INVENTOR ATTORNEY THE NORRIS PETERS cm. WASHINGTON, uc.

I elevation.

ALBERT S. KENT, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

GATE-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16,. 1908.

Application filed June 24, 1907, Serial N 0. 380,627. Renewed April 2, 1908 Serial No. 424,773.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT S. KENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Wyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate- Latches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in gate latches, that will support and automatically look a gate, that swings both inward and outward; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide a gate latch that shall be compact and neat in appearance, and be formed of the minimum number of parts, that are simple, eflicient, durable, strong, and not at all liable to get out of order, and in which the working parts are shielded from the elements and accident; second, to providea gate latch that can be easily andquickly unlocked from either side of a gate, that is adapted to swing open, both inward and outward, and that will automatically lock said gate, when closed. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, out on the line XX, seen in Fig. 2., showing the parts in locked position. Fig. 2. is an end Fig. 3. is a side elevation, showing the parts in unlocked OSltlOIl." Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of t e stud-plate and gate stud. Fig. 6. is a front view of the back plate.

Referring to Figs. 2, and 6, the back plate 1, is provided with notches 1 in the edges thereof, and the curved flange 2, formed integral therewith; the front plate 3, is provided with the top part 4, the two end parts 5 and the projections 4 and 5 formed integral therewith; which are adapted to enter notches 1 and be crimped on back plate 1, to form the casing of the latch; in which is previously placed the stud-plate 6, provided with the two studs 7, and the two thumblevers 8, formed integral with said stud plate; one of the rings 10 is previously placed on each of the studs 7 and each one of said thumb levers is placed between projections 4" and 5, respectively, which together with the mortised edge 5 of end 5, and the edge of back plate 1 form the boundaries of slots 9, in which said thumb levers operate, each fulcrumed on its respective projection 5.

It will be seen in Fig. 1. that the rings 10, normally rest on theflange 2, and bear against the lower edges, respectively, of ends 5,

said rings. Gate stud 11 is formed integral with the plate 12, which is secured to a gate, (not shown), by screws 13, and the before described latch case is secured to an opposing gate post, (not shown,) by screws 14.

In the operation of my invention, said gate is normally kept locked by the locking rings 10, which look the stud 1 1 between them, and said gate is supported by the stud 11, resting on flange 2, thus relieving the hinges of said gate from strain. When the operator, (not shown,) desires to unlock said gate, he presses on the thumb lever 8, which is nearest him, and by said lever, fulcrumed on its respective projection 5 lifts the opposite end of stud plate 6, which carries its respective stud 7, and by said stud carries its respective ring 10 to the position, seen in Fig. 3., upon which gate stud 11 is carried from the position seen in Fig. 1. to the position seen in Fig. 3., by manually moving said gate. 'It will readily be understood, that said operator can, bylifting said thumb latch, reverse the action of the described parts and thus allow said gate to be swung open in the opposite direction, and that upon releasing said thumb lever, it and all the parts, operated thereby will, by gravity be caused to assume the positions, seen in Fig. 1., and that after said operator has passed through said gate, the thus opened gate, is closed by a spring or weight, (not shown,) in the usual manner, and in so doing, carries stud 11 against the outer side of the ring 10, nearest said stud, and lifts said ring by an inward and upward pressure, which allows said stud to pass under said ring, and be stopped by the opposite ring 10, after which the first mentioned ring gravitates to normal position, thus automatically locking said gate.

' It will be seen and understood, from the foregoing, that the number of parts have been reduced to the minimum, are simple in form, are durable, strong, and cheap in cost of manufacture, and that the described case contains no obstruction to the movement of stud plate 6 nor the locking rings, 10, and that all the working parts are shielded from the elements and from accident in said case.

crumed on the lower boundary of its respective slot, and adapted to lift the opposite end of said stud plate, and thereby lift one of said studs and its respective locking ring.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT S. KENT.

Witnesses:

J. F. RUDD, WM. M. MY RS. 

